Indian Classical Music and Arts Foundation (ICMA)

What Indian Classical Music and Arts Foundation (ICMA) does

ICMA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation incorporated in the United States (Tax ID 45-1625705) with parallel registered public trust status in India under Section 80G. Founded in 2012 by National Film Award-winning Hindustani classical vocalist Mahesh Kale alongside co-founder Purva Gujar-Kale, ICMA's stated mission is to preserve, nurture and celebrate Indian classical music among global audiences. The foundation is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, operates with a paid staff of approximately seven plus a volunteer team, and runs programming out of the broader San Francisco Bay Area.

The foundation's core offerings divide into three buckets: (1) live concert production, anchored by the annual Indian Jazz Journey series at Stanford Jazz Festival (co-presented with Stanford since 2017, with the 2026 edition scheduled at Bing Concert Hall) and the annual Abhangwari Marathi devotional concert, plus one-off events such as house concerts, Jagala Prem Arpave performances at elder care facilities, and the Young Masters Series; (2) education and artist development, including the ICMA Scholarship Program (up to USD 1,000 annual stipend for students aged 18-25), MKSM music workshops across the US and Europe, the ICMA Youth Squad (35-40 students), and an Artist-in-Residence program; and (3) archival and community service, including the Indian Classical Music Archives (digitizing rare recordings), ICMA Cares (COVID-era musician support), and the Aikya Mantra diaspora project. Underlying technology is minimal: a content website, a YouTube channel, and social media distribution - no proprietary platform, API, or software product.

ICMA's business model relies on tiered concert ticket sales (typically $10-$100 per ticket with promo codes, student/child discounts, and bundle pricing), tax-deductible donations supporting scholarships, Gurudakshina for retired musicians, and general operations, plus ancillary community partnership contributions. The foundation reaches audiences through an event-driven, direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion - email mailing list, website SEO, social media, and earned press coverage (The Hindu, The Times of India, SF Bay Guardian) - while distribution of tickets flows through the ICMA website, the Stanford Tickets Office, and venue box offices. No external funding rounds or institutional investment have been disclosed.

Name

Indian Classical Music and Arts Foundation (ICMA)

Legal name

Indian Classical Music and Arts Foundation

Website

https://icmafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICMA is a Sunnyvale, California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that preserves and promotes Indian classical music through annual concert series (Indian Jazz Journey, Abhangwari), artist scholarships, youth and education programs, and community outreach serving the Bay Area Indian diaspora and Indian classical music enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts and Cultural Events

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory) (EDAAAGAC), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Virtual Concerts & Music Festivals (Livestreamed Performances) (MPAGAOAD)

Keywords

• Indian classical music
• Live concert events
• Music scholarships
• Cultural arts foundation
• Music education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunnyvale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert and Event Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for concerts, including Indian Jazz Journey, Abhangwari, house concerts, and other live performances at venues like Stanford Jazz Festival, Bing Concert Hall, and Santa Clara Convention Center. Various pricing tiers including donor, premium, general, and student categories.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID 45-1625705) in the US and registered public trust in India (80G), ICMA accepts donations which are tax-deductible. Donations support scholarship programs, Gurudakshina (support for retired musicians), and general operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICMA Foundation presents and promotes Indian classical music through live concerts, workshops and lecture-demonstrations at venues such as Bing Concert Hall at Stanford, Santa Clara Convention Center, Flint Center, Cowell Theater and intimate Saratoga house concerts. It runs a Scholarship Program for emerging Indian classical artists aged 18–25 (up to USD 1,000 per year), the Jagala Prem Arpave community service initiative bringing live music to elder care homes in India, the ICMA Cares #IsolatedYetTogether virtual series and Artist Appreciation Awards, and maintains the Indian Classical Music Archives and an Artist-in-Residence program to preserve rare recordings and styles.

Product overview

ICMA Foundation operates as a single unified non-profit platform focused on preserving, nurturing, and celebrating Indian classical music through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include concert presentation (Indian Jazz Journey, Abhangwari, and various classical music events), music education (ICMA Scholarship Program, MKSM Workshops, Youth Squad), and community engagement (Jagala Prem Arpave, ICMA Cares initiatives). Supporting infrastructure includes the Indian Classical Music Archives and Artist-in-Residence Program. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit with registered public trust status in India, offering programs globally across USA, Canada, Europe, and India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indian Jazz Journey: Annual concert series featuring fusion of Indian classical music and jazz, presented in collaboration with Stanford Jazz Festival.
• Abhangwari
• Melange
• ICMA Cares
• ICMA Scholars
• Jagala Prem Arpave
• ICMA Youth Squad
• Young Masters Series
• MKSM (Mahesh Kale School of Music)
• Aikya Mantra

Products and services

• Indian Jazz Journey Concert Series Annual flagship concert series presenting the fusion of Indian classical music (Hindustani vocals) and Western jazz, featuring collaborations between vocalist Mahesh Kale and saxophonist George Brooks along with guest musicians, held as part of the Stanford Jazz Festival at Bing Concert Hall and Dinkelspiel Auditorium at Stanford University and aimed at Bay Area audiences seeking cross-cultural Indian-Western musical experiences.
• Abhangwari Concert Annual devotional music concert featuring Marathi Abhangs (devotional songs praising Lord Vitthal) performed by Mahesh Kale with an ensemble of traditional musicians, complemented by calligraphic and sculptural visual art, presented at Santa Clara Convention Center and as the grand finale of the BMM 2024 Convention.
• ICMA Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000 INR appreciation awards provided to musicians during COVID-19 pandemic through ICMA Cares initiative
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BMM 2024 ConventioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2024ICMA Foundation collaborated with BMM 2024 Convention as grand closing show presenter of Mahesh Kale's Abhangwari.
• California Arts Association (CalAA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2017Community partner for Mahesh Kale Live in Concert (Sur Niragas Ho) at Flint Center, Cupertino.
• East Bay Marathi Mandal (EBMM)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2017Community partner for Mahesh Kale Live in Concert at Flint Center.
• Stanford Jazz FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Longstanding annual partnership co-presenting Indian Jazz Journey concerts at Stanford Jazz Festival. This flagship collaboration began in 2017 and continues through 2026, featuring Mahesh Kale and George Brooks at venues including Dinkelspiel Auditorium and Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University.
• Asia Week SFminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2015Proud partner of Asia Week SF 2015, presenting Melange ...by the Bay! at Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco.
• South India Fine Arts (SIFA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2015SIFA and ICMA collaborated to present Vayu Vandanam - flute jugalbandi with Shashank Subramanyam and Rakesh Chaurasia at Santa Clara Convention Center.
• India Community Center (ICC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2013Co-presented Melange 2013 concert as part of 'A Memorable Musical Journey' celebrating Indian Classical Music.
• Bay Area Performing Arts (BAPA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2013Collaborated with BAPA on presenting Melange 2013 concert.
• Stanford University (Department of Music)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2013Co-presented Song of the Divine (Kirtan) event and ongoing collaboration on Indian classical music education and performances at Stanford University venues.
• Stanford Center for South AsiaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2013Co-sponsored Song of the Divine event alongside Stanford University Department of Music.
• Stanford Arts InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2013Generously supported Song of the Divine Kirtan event.
• Maharashtra Mandal Bay Area (MMBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2012Community partner for events including The Alchemist tribute to Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki (2019) and other Marathi cultural programs. Collaboration on community outreach to Bay Area Indian diaspora.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Society for Indian Performing Arts & Literature (SIPA): Regional Indian performing arts presenter serving the Washington DC Indian diaspora. Comparable in mission (Indian classical music and dance presentation) to ICMA, though serving a different US region.
• Maharashtra Mandal Bay Area (MMBA): Bay Area Marathi cultural community organization that co-presents events with ICMA. Operates in overlapping diaspora geography with similar programming on Marathi heritage, making it both a partner and adjacent community peer.

Direct peers

• SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth): India-headquartered movement promoting Indian classical music and culture among youth through school and university programs. Comparable to ICMA in mission (Indian classical music education and outreach) but operates at much larger national scale.
• Stanford Jazz Festival: Annual jazz festival at Stanford University and ICMA's flagship partner since 2017 for the Indian Jazz Journey concert series. Direct peer in the live jazz presentation space and key collaborator.
• Sangam (Bay Area Indian Classical Music & Dance): Bay Area-based non-profit presenting Indian classical music and dance performances and educational programs. Directly comparable to ICMA as a regional Indian classical arts presenter serving the same diaspora community in the same geography.
• Chhandayan (New York): US-based Indian classical music non-profit presenting concerts, workshops, and educational programs. Directly comparable in mission and programming model to ICMA, though based in New York rather than the Bay Area.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Hall: Iconic US concert venue and presenter featuring diverse classical and world music programming. ICMA artists (Frank Martin, Mahesh Kale) have appeared on its stage, and it represents the tier of presenter ICMA could aspire to reach.
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Premier US performing arts presenter offering diverse programming including world music and classical genres. Broad incumbent that presents comparable performing arts experiences but at much larger scale and broader artistic scope than ICMA's Indian classical focus.
• SFJAZZ: Major Bay Area non-profit jazz presenter and venue operator. ICMA's Indian Jazz Journey is co-presented with Stanford Jazz Festival in the same jazz ecosystem, and SFJAZZ presents broader jazz programming that overlaps in audience.

Others

• SaMa (Stanford Music and Arts): Stanford University's performing arts programming arm. ICMA presents at Stanford venues and partners with Stanford departments; an enabling/ecosystem peer that provides venue access and shared audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ICMAFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICMAFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icma-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Indian Classical Music and Arts Foundation (ICMA)